Dear Editor,
It is very lamentable that there is the ongoing teachers’ strike and impasse facing the nation. I note that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is “worried” about the possible consequences for teachers if the High Court decision should be overturned.
As we remember, just a while ago, High Court Justice Sandil Kissoon ruled that “the five-week strike action in February by teachers across Guyana was “legal and legitimate.” Consequently, as was reported in the press, “the court ruled, among other things, that the Government could not cut the salaries of those teachers who were on strike and did not show up to work.” As expected, the Government did appeal this decision, seeking “an order setting aside the whole of the decision of the Honourable Mr Justice Sandil Kissoon…”
As a most pertinent footnote, I am also curious about a few things. One is how will the Honourable Mr. Justice Sandil Kissoon feel should his ruling be overturned; and two, supposing another appeal is launched (should some feel peeved with the overturning) and the matter heads to the CCJ. So, the issue seems far from being over.
Editor, let us forget about numbers and support for or against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government. The fact that stands out is that our students are seriously being hurt. They are the innocent victims, and this is why I truly condemn those on strike and their supporters. I also question their motive for entering the teaching profession. Maybe many are choosing teaching as a career simply because it provides for a relaxed schedule. Summer; that is, the traditional August break, allows for a kind of ‘paid freedom from work.’
Now, I go back to September 2018, during that infamous teachers’ strike. That was when the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) firmly stated that “the nation’s educators had received more under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration than what they (were then getting) under ‘this’ coalition Administration…” as it was the APNU-AFC (A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change) who were in power at that time. At that juncture, and being very unhappy with APNU/AFC, GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald voiced, “If we look at what transpired under the PPP Government when they were in power (prior to 2015) and what is transpiring now (2015-2017)…remember we didn’t want the five per cent. We made noise about it. But with the five per cent, we got a whole lot of non-salary benefits.”
She detailed then also that, “For the first time in the history of this country, our teachers were able to get clothing allowance, duty-free concessions, and allowances for additional qualifications. While the PPP Government was in power — and you know I don’t want to sound political, but we have to make the comparison because of all the untruths they peddling out there…”
Need I say more?
Currently, I am very aware that there is a “Duty-free concession for ‘selected’ teachers, as well as UG scholarships. I recall Minister Priya Manickchand’s words detailing that “Some 100 teachers across the country will be benefitting from duty-free concessions in the near future…(and as we know), this concession, issued by Government, will allow them to acquire their own vehicles without any duty commitments to be paid, thereby lowering the overall cost significantly.”
Editor, it got even better as “All CPCE trainees (received) salaries from January 2023”. This is a ‘first,’ as “(Previously) only persons living in the dorms (were) given a stipend of about $11,000. Now this (was) modified so that every CPCE student (received) a salary, since and rightfully reasoned by the Minister, “They’ll be in schools even as they are learning, and so they are going to be paid.”
My second comment is two-fold, and it deals with the legal and moral aspects of the spearhead of this unnecessary strike.
From a legal standpoint, I guess that most people are aware that Coretta McDonald ‘is’ and not ‘might’ be holding her position as Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) General Secretary in contravention of the said GTU’s rule book, which is essentially the constitution of the union. I was aware of this even before it was disclosed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. This needs some careful investigation.
The actual wording is that “Any person holding a Teachers Certificate acceptable to the Executive Council but who is not eligible for active membership may become an associate member of the union by making application therefor to the Executive Council”… (and) Further, Clause C, Section II of the rules outlines that “Associate members shall have the right to vote, but shall not be eligible to hold the office of the President or General Secretary… [this includes] teachers who leave the classroom to serve as Members of Parliament.”
And who is this Agent Provocateur? She is Ms McDonald, who was sworn in as A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Parliamentarian in 2020, and by default her stint as General Secretary of the GTU should have ended.
On the moral sphere, back in August last year, Coretta McDonald entertained attacks against Indo-Guyanese on her show “Advancing the Cause.” At the time, a person called and spewed racist comments, which she, McDonald, not only failed to shut down, but shockingly agreed with what was being said. That caller, in harmony with McDonald’s, expressed hateful sentiments, stating that Indo-Guyanese has no “history” in Guyana’s creation. Enough said!
Readers, we all want more money. It is an innate desire, and we can all strike. So, where our teachers are concerned, I ask that they see things holistically. It is common knowledge that the education sector will this year receive a whopping $135.2 billion to further advance its programmes. Of this allocation, some $28.7 billion will go towards the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of school buildings and educational facilities. Additionally, $8.1 billion will be injected to continue the distribution of the “Because We Care” cash grant initiative and uniform grant, benefitting 205,305 children. Also, a total of $4.9 billion has been set aside to continue the national school feeding programme, while $3 billion was allotted to purchase over 500,000 textbooks for primary and secondary school pupils. Then there is a sum of $2.3 billion that was budgeted to support technical and vocational interventions.
I rest my case. I know that noble minds will pull through. Too much is at stake for the Ministry of Education, teachers and students.
Yours truly,
HB Singh
